North Carolina's Wake County Public School System has banned school choirs from participating in a Mormon-sponsored Nativity event, under pressure from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, The News & Observer reports.

The nonprofit dedicated to the separation of church and state complained a year ago about the choirs performing in the Apex Christmas Nativity Celebration, directing attention to a YouTube video in which a Church of Latter-day Saints official said the event "represents a wonderful opportunity for you to bear testimony of Christ to your friends."

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School spokesman Tim Simmons told the News & Observer the district's attorney advised participation in the celebration "put the district in the position of potentially endorsing a religious viewpoint." He added the decision doesn't prevent schools from participating at Nativity events, as long as they aren't an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

The Wisconsin-based FFRF was pleased with the the move.

"It is well settled that public schools may not advance or endorse religion," FFRF staff attorney Patrick Elliot said in a statement. "In order to avoid the perception of school endorsement of a religious message, schools must not participate in overtly religious events.

"The whole purpose of the event is to display and honor nativity scenes, which highlight an exclusively Christian aspect of the holiday season, rather than a secular Christmas celebration."